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Behind-The-Books Blog

Tough acts to follow

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Working on this side of the publishing industry’s fence I know how difficult it can be to be a debut author. There are so many hurdles to cross and people you need to win over, starting with your agent, to your editor, to the all-important sales team (I would say that wouldn’t I?!) before the book gets anywhere near the buying public. And while browsing the children’s section of Waterstone’s Gower Street the other day I realized just how difficult a children’s writer in particular has it breaking out. Because, if you’re anything like me, once you’re in that deliciously tactile corner of the store you keep on coming across long-forgotten gems.

I couldn’t help but buy the following two books that I remember vividly from my childhood. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly had me immediately humming lines I shouldn’t be able to remember. Likewise with Each, Peach, Pear, Plum. And while I came out of the shop with the immortal lines ‘it wriggled and wiggled and jiggled inside her’ ringing through my head, I realized that we’re probably far less likely to give a ‘new’ children’s book a try than we would for our regular reading.

Any thoughts?

Lesley Crooks, Sales & Digital Manager

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